Seeing the term “boomer shooter” can seem confusing. As if a new genre is appearing amid the many in gaming. With so many types of games out there, it can be tricky to nail some of them down to one type sometimes. Sure, there are first-person and third-person shooters. But boomer shooters are making more strides back into gaming. And with some being the biggest games in the history of games, it’s important to know what the term means. Additionally, getting to know examples of boomer shooters can help you enjoy more of them. You never know, you may have tried some out already without knowing it!
What Is a Boomer Shooter?
A boomer shooter refers to the subgenre of the first-person shooter genre of games. It’s a faster type of shooter in all ways, including movement and combat. Furthermore, it features arcade mechanics like the players having more health than average FPS titles. A big characteristic of boomer shooters is that players can aim down sights in them. Instead, all of the weapons are fired from the hip. Many levels in these types of games are also not linear. Rather, they feature different areas to go and explore. Games like DOOM or Star Wars: Dark Forces are iconic for this. Allowing you to find secret areas or different pathways around parts of the map.
Boomer shooters took the standard formula of first-person shooters and kicked them up a notch. Giving players a more hectic and challenging style of gameplay to explore. However, this also allows for a more rewarding experience. Getting to clear out a room full of tough enemies is a blast. Or finding a secret room with items to help you out in a mission, giving you a sigh of relief. Something that only made players like me more curious to hunt every nook and cranny of a map. They are a unique variety of shooters that are only getting more unique as time goes on.
What Are Some Examples of Boomer Shooters?
There are many different games that are boomer shooters out there. For example, DOOM and Quake are the most iconic titles that follow the characteristics of being one. But many games have been released that fit perfectly into the sub-genre. Including some much more recent hits. If you are curious about some boomer shooter titles and series, they are:
- Amid Evil
- Blood: Refreshed Supply
- DOOM
- Duke Nukem 3D
- DUSK
- Heretic
- Hexen
- Ion Fury
- Mouse P.I. For Hire
- Quake
- Shadow Warrior
- Star Wars: Dark Forces
- Turbo Overkill
Each of these games features different settings and worlds. Such as DOOM, having players take on hordes of demons. Whereas something like Mouse P.I. For Hire has you fighting various talking animals. Boomer shooters have many similar things at their cores. More specifically, when it comes to their characteristics and mechanics. However, developers of the genre work to ensure that they add their creative identities to them. To the point where Blood and Quake are nowhere near the same besides their boomer shooter foundations.
Boomer Shooters are fantastic games that players around the world should be trying. If they haven’t already. Whether it’s remasters of classics like Blood and Star Wars: Dark Forces. Or, if you want to dive into newer titles, DOOM: The Dark Ages and Turbo Overkill are good options. At first, they can be tricky, but learning them is a part of the fun. And you never know, you may enjoy more as you dive into the different games.
